Tea is one of the oldest beverages known to men, and is generally made by soaking dried leaves in hot water. Many people prefer tea over coffee because certain blends are refreshing without the same level of caffeine. Taken hot or cold, drinking tea has many benefits and it goes far beyond refreshment. Studies show that drinking tea may actually boost your immune system and improve your overall health. Some variety of teas can even fight inflammation, prevent cancer and heart disease.
With so many tea blends in the market, you may opt to buy loose leaves or convenient tea bags. But if you prefer to concoct your own blend, these homemade tea recipes are worth trying, whether hot or cold.
Honey-Lemon-Ginger Tea
If you’re looking for a powerful cleansing and detox drink that you can take hot or cold, this concoction is a sure win. Grate a few thumb-size pieces of fresh ginger and squeeze out the juice. In a cup of hot water, add in on part of ginger juice, one part of lemon juice and two parts of raw honey. For a more powerful boost of antioxidant properties, add another part of turmeric. Adjust the sweetness according to your taste by adding honey. And if the taste of turmeric is still strong for you, add lemongrass when boiling your water.
Fresh Orange Mint Tea
Make your own naturally caffeine-free herbal tea with this soothing tea blend. Simply boil a few pieces of mint leaves and squeeze in fresh orange juice and raw honey before serving. For that added zest, add a few strips of orange peel. Make this soothing drink available anytime by growing mint in your garden. Enjoy this absolutely refreshing drink hot or cold.
Lemongrass Ginger Iced Tea
This popular tea recipe is so popular among cold tea drinkers. IF you find traditional tea blends too bitter on their own, try adding fresh lemongrass in the boiling process. Lemongrass suppresses the bitterness of traditional tea. Squeeze in fresh lemon or lime and raw honey for a refreshing drink you’ll even forget you’re drinking tea.
Turmeric Tonic
In a saucepan combine a tablespoon of grated fresh turmeric, 3-inch cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger and put to boil in 2 cups of water. To curb the taste of turmeric, add freshly-squeezed lemon juice and raw honey.
Healthy tip: Curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Including a few cracks of black pepper in the boiling process increases the absorption of curcumin by up to 2,000%
Citrus Tea with Tarragon
Tarragon gives a distinct kick that’s perfect for citrusy beverage. Grow some tarragon herbs in your garden and you can have this perfect citrus tea anytime by combining a mixture of lemon, lime, and orange in boiling water with fresh tarragon. If you want it smooth without the pulp, strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a clean cup full of citrus flavors for any time of the day. Believe it or not, this refreshing drink is best served cold.
Whichever tea blend you prefer, always use the freshest ingredients. Always use raw honey in all your tea blends. Raw honey is high in nutrients. Raw honey is honey that has not been pasteurized, which involves heating it to kill yeast cells that can affect its taste, increase its shelf-life and make it clearer. However, this process adversely affects the number of nutrients in honey that you wouldn’t want to miss.
To fully enjoy your cup of tea whether hot or cold, make sure you only use clean, pure, and healthy filtered water. Don’t fully trust your tap because water that runs through your tap is treated with chlorine and contains flouride and small traces of hard metals and other contaminants. A home water filtration system, like SJ Wave faucet water filter, accurately removes 98% of chlorine and unwanted taste and odor in water. This cute filter effectively blocks fine particles and many other contaminants while leave only the beneficial ones for you.
Concoct your own creations with whatever is available in your cupboard. Don’t hesitate to blend different herbs, fruits and spices. Using the freshest ingredients and clean water, you can go ahead and start blending your favorite tea to a healthier life.